Systems and methods for mitigating the effects of wind turbines on radar

Abstract

A control system for mitigating the effects of a wind turbine on a radar system is disclosed. The control system includes a sensor configured to detect an operating condition of the radar system; a processor configured to receive an operating condition of the wind turbine and determine a rotation modification sequence based on the operating condition of the radar system and the operating condition of the wind turbine; and a controller configured to apply the rotation modification sequence to the wind turbine. A method of mitigating the effects of a wind turbine on a radar system is also disclosed.

1. A control system for mitigating the effects of a wind turbine on a radar system, the control system comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect an operating condition of the radar system; 
 a processor configured to receive an operating condition of the wind turbine and determine a rotation modification sequence based on the operating condition of the radar system and the operating condition of the wind turbine; and 
 a controller configured to apply the rotation modification sequence to the wind turbine. 
 
     
     
       2. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an RF antenna mounted proximate to the wind turbine. 
     
     
       3. The control system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a memory configured to store data including: constant parameters of the wind turbine, constant parameters of the radar system, and instructions for determining the rotation modification sequence of the wind turbine. 
 
     
     
       4. The control system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a user interface configured to receive operating inputs from a user. 
 
     
     
       5. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to apply torque to a rotor of the wind turbine. 
     
     
       6. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to increase an angular blade velocity of the wind turbine. 
     
     
       7. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to decrease an angular blade velocity of the wind turbine. 
     
     
       8. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to modify a directional orientation of the wind turbine. 
     
     
       9. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to modify a blade pitch of the wind turbine. 
     
     
       10. A method of mitigating the effects of a wind turbine on a radar system, the method comprising the steps of:
 detecting an operating condition of the radar system with a sensor; 
 receiving an operating condition of the wind turbine; and 
 modifying the operation of the wind turbine based on the operating condition of the radar system and the operating condition of the wind turbine. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein detecting an operating condition of the radar system includes one of: determining a scan rate of the radar system and detecting a beam width of the radar system. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein receiving an operating condition of the wind turbine includes one of: receiving an angular blade position of the wind turbine and receiving an angular blade velocity of the wind turbine. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein modifying the operation of the wind turbine includes determining a rotation modification sequence for the wind turbine, based on the operating condition of the radar system and the operating condition of the wind turbine. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein determining a rotation modification sequence includes calculating an expected time and duration of an impending radar scan. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein determining a rotation modification sequence includes calculating a time period during which at least one blade of the wind turbine is expected to be undesirably oriented. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , wherein determining a rotation modification sequence includes calculating an acceleration or deceleration value for a blade of the wind turbine based on a blade mass and geometry. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , wherein modifying the operation of the wind turbine includes applying torque to a rotor of the wind turbine. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , wherein modifying the operation of the wind turbine includes modifying a blade pitch of the wind turbine. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 10 , wherein modifying the operation of the wind turbine includes modifying a directional orientation of the wind turbine. 
     
     
       20. A method of mitigating the effects of a wind turbine on a radar system, the method comprising the steps of:
 determining an operating condition of the radar system with a sensor; 
 determining a current operating condition of the wind turbine; 
 calculating a new operating condition of the wind turbine based on the operating condition of the radar system and the current operating condition of the wind turbine; and 
 modifying the operation of the wind turbine based on a comparison between the current operating condition of the wind turbine and the new operating condition of the wind turbine.